He still may be Franchised, between now and Free Agency. Though, I hope we don't. He isn't worth it. He is only marginal against the run, has regressed as a pass rusher, is thirty years old, coming off of an injury. If we commit that much cap space, via a tag, into him, I would be furious. I would rather let him go, sign a few key Free Agents on the O-Line, WR, DB, instead. While taking a Defensive End in this deep draft for that position.

Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney plans to void the remaining two years of his contract  he's owed $13.8 million  next week, making him an unrestricted free agent, according to his co-representative, Rich Rosa.

Beginning today, Kerney has a week to opt out of his deal, which he is expected to do, although he probably won't rush. According to Rosa, he wants to work out a new deal with the Falcons, who drafted him in the first round out of Virginia in 1999.

The Falcons and the eight-year veteran have been working on a contract extension for months. Both sides said they want to work out a deal, but with a limited number of pending top free-agent defensive ends set to hit the open market, Kerney could be in high demand if he is not signed by the start of free agency on March 2.

"He wants to give them every opportunity to re-sign him," Rosa said.

Another reason for Kerney's lack of immediacy to void his contract could be to let Thursday's franchise tag deadline expire. The Falcons could slap the franchise label on Kerney, taking him off the market by tendering him a one-year deal of about $8.6 million  the average salary of the five highest-paid defensive ends in the NFL.

If Kerney voids his contract after Thursday, the Falcons would not be able to stop him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

If it chose to franchise Kerney, Atlanta would consume much of its projected $10 million in salary-cap space for the 2007 season unless it releases some players and/or reworks the contracts of others. By working out a long-term deal, the Falcons could spread out the salary-cap implications of all bonus money over the length of the contract and retain financial flexibility.

Kerney missed the final seven games of last season after suffering a torn chest muscle that required season-ending surgery. The injury, from which he is expected to fully recover before training camp, ended his streak of consecutive games played at 105.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Kerney go to Washington. He's from Jersey, went to school at UVA. If he's willing to consider a move to a 3-4 OLB role, that would open things up a lot more, with the Jets perhaps taking a peek, along with the Browns and others. Used in situational purposes, I think he'd be solid.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Kerney go to Washington. He's from Jersey, went to school at UVA. If he's willing to consider a move to a 3-4 OLB role, that would open things up a lot more, with the Jets perhaps taking a peek, along with the Browns and others. Used in situational purposes, I think he'd be solid.

I could see Washington signing him even if they didn't have the money. They do that sort of stuff. But I don't see him in a 3-4 OLB role. He's a pure 4-3 end. I see him in WAS, DEN, SF(if they go 4-3) if he doesnt resign in ATL with a much less lucrative deal.

I don't know how Kerney is coming off injury, but when he was younger, he was an excellent athlete who would've made a solid 3-4 OLB, in my opinion (on a side note, he was recruited to UVA for lacrosse, and then got onto football). But that said, he's coming off injury, and that's a big unknown.

I don't know how Kerney is coming off injury, but when he was younger, he was an excellent athlete who would've made a solid 3-4 OLB, in my opinion (on a side note, he was recruited to UVA for lacrosse, and then got onto football). But that said, he's coming off injury, and that's a big unknown.

True true, and he's 31, and has naturally bulked up some. If Greg Ellis at his age could do it, then I probably shouldn't doubt Kerney.

He still may be Franchised, between now and Free Agency. Though, I hope we don't. He isn't worth it. He is only marginal against the run, has regressed as a pass rusher, is thirty years old, coming off of an injury. If we commit that much cap space, via a tag, into him, I would be furious. I would rather let him go, sign a few key Free Agents on the O-Line, WR, DB, instead. While taking a Defensive End in this deep draft for that position.

Victor Abriamiri in a Falcon uniform? He would be a nice fit in that speed defense.